Bevan now a believer - in himself

[swansrule100]

After last weeks effort I'm surprised he didn't have is own program on the tele - Missing Person's Unit

you must be part of roosys plans to pump up bevans tyres

you actually make me hope he gets traded so you will shut up

[ShockOfHair]

ALmost the exact story appeared two or three weeks ago (in Real Footy?), about Bevo being told by the rest of the players he needed to believe in himself, and how he's having his greatest season, etc..etc.

Either this journo enjoyed it so much he wrote his own version of it, or there's a severe shortage of newsworthy Swans players.

[connolly]

you must be part of roosys plans to pump up bevans tyres

you actually make me hope he gets traded so you will shut up

Unfortunately you will be disappointed on both counts.

[connolly]

ALmost the exact story appeared two or three weeks ago (in Real Footy?), about Bevo being told by the rest of the players he needed to believe in himself, and how he's having his greatest season, etc..etc.

Either this journo enjoyed it so much he wrote his own version of it, or there's a severe shortage of newsworthy Swans players.

I would have thought a self effacing modest footballer who actually needs to be told by others how good he really is, in the current ego charged world of professional sport is a good story that deserves a few versions. Apart from being a very good footballer, Bevo appears to be a genuinely decent young man. AFL needs such stories and such people.

[swansrule100]

I would have thought a self effacing modest footballer who actually needs to be told by others how good he really is, in the current ego charged world of professional sport is a good story that deserves a few versions. Apart from being a very good footballer, Bevo appears to be a genuinely decent young man. AFL needs such stories and such people.

i think bevans views on himself are more realistic than your views on his abilities

[NMWBloods]

I would have thought a self effacing modest footballer who actually needs to be told by others how good he really is, in the current ego charged world of professional sport is a good story that deserves a few versions.

Weren't you the one who was disparaging of players lacking confidence or even the use of the term, inventing all sorts of spurious euphemisms?

[woo]

Bevo was in my office during the week....I did a double take...didn't even recognise him other than he looked familiar..a LOT better looking in real life

[connolly]

Weren't you the one who was disparaging of players lacking confidence or even the use of the term, inventing all sorts of spurious euphemisms?

I think Bevo was lacking in self confidence. The other person who shall mercifully remain nameless seems to have a ton of self confidence but lacks confidence in going after the ball. Big difference.

[RogueSwan]

Bevo was in my office during the week....I did a double take...didn't even recognise him other than he looked familiar..a LOT better looking in real life

what, no bloodied head bandages??
I must admit, after Mrs Rogue pointed it out, that Bevo has some big guns.
All the better to tackle you with.

[NMWBloods]

I think Bevo was lacking in self confidence. The other person who shall mercifully remain nameless seems to have a ton of self confidence but lacks confidence in going after the ball. Big difference.

Pop psychology at its worst.

Nevertheless, I think you have a fundamental misreading, misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the issues and arguments - I'm just not sure if it is deliberate or not. Hypocrisy seems apparent over the confidence issue though.

[connolly]

Nevertheless, I think you have a fundamental misreading, misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the issues and arguments - I'm just not sure if it is deliberate or not. Hypocrisy seems apparent over the confidence issue though.

Does it help if the term self belief is used in relation to Bevo? In regard to the reserve grader I do believe "confidence" was used as a euphemism to spin his lack of committment, effort and selflessness for the team. There is an important distinction between the meaning of words and their use. That you are keeping an open mind on whether I am intellectually dishonest despite stupidity and hypocrisy is appreciated.

[NMWBloods]

Does it help if the term self belief is used in relation to Bevo? In regard to the reserve grader I do believe "confidence" was used as a euphemism to spin his lack of committment, effort and selflessness for the team. There is an important distinction between the meaning of words and their use. That you are keeping an open mind on whether I am intellectually dishonest despite stupidity and hypocrisy is appreciated.

This still seems most appropriate...

Pop psychology at its worst.

[lwjoyner]

Home grown boy

I truly beleive the fact that Bevan is a product of non afl culture (NSW rugby league background) is the reason for most of the hype and support from the swans. NO matter that he turns the ball over a bit and has not really improved a lot from hsi first year when he was a rising star nomination in fact I think he was in the top few for the year. Whereas Nick D is a product of AFL and his father was a very good teacher and that is talking from experience. I think no matter what he does he will not get the same accolades .

[liz]

I reckon that confidence and luck have something in common. It's not uncommon to hear elite sports people (indeed people from many walks in life) comment "The harder you work, the luckier you get".

One of the things that most gives me the irrits is when the Swans go into one of those few-game-slumps when they start playing careless, insipid football (as they seem to most seasons) and we get an article during the week with one or other player commenting on how they've lost that self-confidence / trust in each other and how they've just got to rediscover that and all will be peachy again. Generally what I've witnessed during those games is players not running off the ball, players not tackling. It may not be all the players, but it only takes a handful to drop their effort and the whole team looks shocking. And that's not just the Swans. I daresay it goes for every AFL team. Surprisingly (not), once the workrate picks up, so the confidence magically reappears.

Maybe Davis is down on confidence. But from what I've witnessed seeing him play reserves this season is that he's also down on workrate. Maybe not according to his standards, but certainly compared to most of his senior listed team mates. And I daresay it's not just during matches. Davis has himself admitted - on several occasions - that he's never been the best trainer in the world. In all likelihood, that's not changed much.

People accuse Roos of being inconsistent. I don't get that. Almost everytime he comments on a player being down on form, he refers to workrate. In the three-part interview with him on the Swans website at the start of the year he was asked which players he has found easy / hard to coach and he commented that the ones he finds hardest are those who aren't prepared to work to get the most out of themselves. It's hardly surprising he seems to have a special bond with Kirk, the ultimate in a player with limited talent (relative to elite level) yet who has got the absolute most out of himself. I find it hard to believe that any player at the club doesn't understand that he's going to get more opportunities if he works damn hard. I daresay there are other ways to coach a successful team. Maybe some coaches place more store in freakishness or classy skills. But that doesn't mean that charges against Roos that he is being inconsistent or hypocritical in his attitudes towards Bevan and Davis can be sustained.

Davis clearly hasn't lost his ability, and from what I've seen I don't think he's lost the least bit of confidence in his skills. His class shines out at reserves level - when he has the ball. But so does his lack of effort off the ball compared to other experienced players trying to regain a place in the side, like Fosdike, Mathews, Grundy and several who've yet to win a senior spot, like Brabazon, O'Dwyer and Bruce. If Davis were taller, or quicker, maybe he could get by with his level of effort. It's not his fault that he's not taller or quicker. But he's got to work with what he has. The game has got quicker, tougher and players fitter even over just the last couple of seasons and if Davis isn't prepared to supplement his sublime kicking ability with something else, he's not going to get back into the team.

Go back and read any of ORB's reserves reports from the last two months, together with responses from others who've seen the games, and you'll see my observations on how Davis has been playing echoed. So maybe those people who desperately want to see Davis back in the team should stop fixating on supposed inconsistency in how players are treated and start getting angry with Davis for not responding, consistently, to the challenge that he's been given.

[NMWBloods]

"Hypocrisy" was directed at Connolly.